HARDWARE / PRODUCTUpdated 24 Jul 2026

S3 Smart Sun Sensor

Leonardo SpA (Space Division)
S3 Smart Sun Sensor

The Leonardo S3 (Smart Sun Sensor) is a two-axis solar sensor based on an APS (Active Pixel Sensor) CMOS detector, combining the functions of fine and coarse sun sensors in a single compact unit. Field of view is 128×128 degrees (resizable), with less than 0.02-degree accuracy (2-sigma) and 0.005-degree resolution. Update rate is 10 Hz. […]

Key figurescomparable across the catalogue

Mass
0.33 kg
Largest dimension
112 mm
Design life
15 years
TRL
9

Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.

As published by the supplier

Detector
APS CMOS
FOV
128 x 128 deg (resizable)
Accuracy (2-sigma)
<0.02 deg
Resolution
<0.005 deg
Update rate
10 Hz
Altitude range
3,000-40,000 km (interplanetary up to 50 AU)
Spinning rate
Up to 100 rpm
Dimensions
112 x 12 x 43 mm
Mass
<330 g
Supply (pre-regulated)
+5 V, <700 mW
Supply (unregulated)
24-50V, <1 W
Interface
RS-422 (DS48 or DS16 serial)
Radiation
100 kRad (300 kRad optional); detector up to 1 Mrad; SEU tolerant, latch-up free
Operating temperature
-25 to +60 deg C
Design lifetime
>15 years GEO
TRL
9 (ISS Columbus, Galileo, Lisa Pathfinder)

About

The Leonardo S3 (Smart Sun Sensor) is a two-axis solar sensor based on an APS (Active Pixel Sensor) CMOS detector, combining the functions of fine and coarse sun sensors in a single compact unit. Field of view is 128×128 degrees (resizable), with less than 0.02-degree accuracy (2-sigma) and 0.005-degree resolution. Update rate is 10 Hz. Designed for Earth observation satellites, GEO telecom spacecraft, interplanetary missions up to 50 AU, and spinning spacecraft up to 100 rpm. Power consumption is less than 700 mW from 5V pre-regulated supply or less than 1W from 24-50V unregulated. Mass is 330g in 112x12x43mm package. ITAR-free. Flight heritage includes ISS Columbus module (since Feb 2008), ESA GOCE, SICRAL-1B, and Lisa Pathfinder.

Documentation

No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.

Source: space.leonardo.com ↗

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